Balancing their independence with inter-dependence:
"As children grow up to be worldly inquisitive and indulgent, it is necessary to lay the foundation of discrimination, rather than a dominating discipline that makes them revolt! Later self discipline naturally follows discrimination,"
Sage Vasishta counseled King Dasharatha - as narrated by Valmiki in the 'Ramayana'.
Student life on the campus:
In their anxiety to reach the top, most people endeavour to develop their; brains and bodies', forgetting the fact that a 'whole person' – which includes feelings, emotions, competencies, attitudes and spirit. Essential human competencies such as self-confidence, self-reliance, self-restraint along with appropriateness of emotion, have a large bearing on the success of an individual. Behavioural scientists advocate that individuals can achieve complete emotional balance only through 'community living' – during the growth years. Very often, innocent expression of parental love beyond a certain age, keeps children trapped in a 'childish dependency' – making them naive and helplessly in love with themselves! When ties are cut from both parents at an appropriate age and the child learns to grow independently in a community, a transformation occurs! Children learn that: 'they will receive as much as they give' and realize that Freedom and Responsibility are two sides of the same coin! This evolution will make their future roles in careers and societies mature, fulfilling and successful. Khalil Gibran rightly said, "You may give children your love but not your thoughts…. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you, for life goes not backward nor tarries with the yesterday…." The Abhyasa environment facilitates community living by simulating the larger society with students from all over India and abroad. The school is a replica of the larger world where individuals from different social and cultural backgrounds learn to live and work together until they reach a new level of consciousness.
